The Fading Away of the Bilbao Effect: Bilbao, Denver, Helsinki, Abu Dhabi

Abstract

This paper uses several cases of attempted urban regeneration via cultural megaprojects to show the drawbacks and failures of so-called Bilbao Effect: a model of urban revitalization based on iconic architecture that became commonplace among urban managers worldwide after the alleged success of the Bilbao Guggenheim upon its opening in 1997. It is argued that cultural megaprojects are in fact vehicles for a property-led urban revitalization strategy with substantial disadvantages for cities and regions. The impacts of these iconic buildings on the urban fabric are often unintended and negative. The relative success of Bilbao has been hard to replicate elsewhere because urban leaders in most cities have overlooked the intrinsic limitations of iconic buildings to effect urban socio-economic regeneration. Urban leaders elsewhere also failed to examine and understand the specific socio-economic and political context in Bilbao as well as the overall local revitalization strategy of which the Guggenheim was just one element among many. As a result of the failure and the fading away of the Bilbao effect, the Guggenheim Foundation dream of museum franchises around the world, controlled by the Foundation and paid for by host cities, has not been realized.